History of Medieval Sermons on the Books Old Testament

The history of medieval sermons on the books of the Old Testament occupies a central yet often underappreciated place within the study of medieval Christianity. For more than a millennium, Christian preachers across Europe turned repeatedly to the narratives, prophecies, laws, prayers, and wisdom traditions of the Hebrew Scriptures in order to instruct, admonish, inspire, and govern their audiences. From monastic cloisters and cathedral schools to parish churches and university pulpits, the Old Testament served as one of the principal reservoirs of images, stories, moral exemplars, and theological concepts through which medieval Christians interpreted both their faith and their world. Although the New Testament stood at the heart of Christian revelation, medieval preaching never abandoned the older scriptural corpus. Instead, it developed increasingly sophisticated methods for integrating ancient Israelite texts into the religious life of medieval Europe.